The budget project is over. They did not all manage to live within their income. They did mostly learn that they shouldn’t buy spiffy new cars and rent elegant apartments when right out of school. They learned insurance costs a lot and sometimes there’s no money for a vacation. I let a couple of students change the jobs they first chose for the project because they were going broke fast and furiously when earning in the mid-twenties. I also stressed student loans: Go to school but do it smart.

Let’s hope this translates into some intelligent life choices.